Cape Central soccer tumbles in district opener

The Central Tigers kept fighting off one Northwest chance after another.

Eventually a first-year reserve for the Lions buried a breakaway goal 18 minutes into the second half to propel Northwest to a 4-1 victory over Central in the opening round of the Class 3 District 1 girls soccer tournament Saturday in Jackson.

Katie Kroeger, a senior who played this season to get in shape for college softball, found the back of the net to help take some pressure off the Lions.

"That's huge," Lions coach Stacy Gottman said. "It's even bigger because she's not our typical goal scorer. She's a softball player that's going to Iowa State next year on a scholarship. But she's a good kid and all the girls love her."

Added Central coach Elizabeth Fleer: "It's one of those things where you work hard to hold teams then they get that one goal. It was a heartbreaker. You work hard to keep it 0-0."

Central's Danielle Markhart, left, tries to work past Northwest's Lauren Enloe during Saturday's game in Jackson. (LAURA SIMON)

It was only Kroeger's second goal this season.

Her third would come eight minutes later.

With 14 minutes left to play, Ashley Mess beat a Central defender to the end line before crossing a ball right to Kroeger, who buried it for a commanding 2-0 lead.

"That was huge for us," Gottman said of the second goal. "We tend to need those cushions. We do have a hard time finding the back of the net, so those goals were huge for us."

The goals didn't come that easy in the first half for the Lions.

Cape Central's Maria Popp kicks the ball from behind Northwest High School's Brittany Fortner Saturday, May 15, 2010 during the Class 3 District 1 quarterfinals in Jackson. (LAURA SIMON)

Central's defense, led by goalkeeper Cali Knepp, was determined to keep the game scoreless.

Knepp made a nice save just five minutes into the game to keep it scoreless.

Then the Lions started peppering the freshman goalie.

Lions midfielder Kylie Hamilton sneaked in behind the Tigers' defense on a cross, but a charging Knepp forced Hamilton's shot just wide about eight minutes into the game.

Northwest's Kayla Fortner pushed a breakaway just wide as Knepp was charging 10 minutes later.

Northwest High School's Lauren Enloe steps in front of Central's Mollie Nelms for control of the ball Saturday.

The Lions' best first-half chance came with 14 minutes to play.

Mess sneaked in for a breakaway, but Knepp made a diving save to keep the score tied.

"She's just a freshman," Fleer said. "She had a lot of pressure on her but she did a really, really great job of keeping us in the game."

While the Tigers' defense was solid, their offense never got going.

Central (3-17) had few good scoring opportunities, only capitalizing on one late in the game.

Central goalie Cali Knepp deflects a shot during Saturday's game in Jackson.

"I guess that's the story of our season," Fleer said. "We're a young team and we're not very good at finishing yet. That's a point to improve upon for next year. I'm excited for next year."

Gottman wasn't pleased with her team's play in the first half either.

"We didn't play our game at all," Gottman said of the first half. "Our talk to them was it was horrible. We just weren't playing our game."

The Lions (11-13-1) improved in the second half, especially after getting up 2-0. But the Tigers refused to fold.

Central finally got on the scoreboard when Megan Daly put one in the back of the net from the left side to cut the Lions' lead to 2-1 with four minutes to play.

But Northwest responded quickly.

Ashley Rock sent a cross to Hamilton to make it 3-1 with two minutes left to play, and Mess tallied another goal for the Lions a minute later.